Lumen Waite 100 - Flipbook - Page 42
“For me, it’s about experiential learning. I think if you
know that you’re learning something and that you’re going to be putting that knowledge into practice, it’s more
relevant,” Kerry says. “We’re very collaborative, and
cross-disciplinary. We have a lot of diverse interests from
an education and teaching perspective. The thing that I’ve
always liked about collegiality is that people bounce ideas
off one another.”
Partnerships, Kerry adds, also play an important role
with students gaining access to industry professionals and
potential employers through Waite’s programs. For students this doesn’t only mean access to potential networks
and internships, but also the opportunity to contribute to
research addressing some of industry’s biggest challenges.
“It’s a really nice example of a university and industry
working together to train future scientists and also help
solve some of the industry challenges out there, like climate
change, improving the efficiency and profitability of winemaking, or managing pests and diseases,” Kerry says.
Likewise, when it comes to innovation, it goes further
than just ideas in the research lab and the teaching methods, with a community approach among educators.
“Academics also come together in different ways,” says
Kerry. “We have a community of practice called Innovative
Teaching at Waite, where we meet to share stories about
what we’ve tried. We’re always looking at doing things better, but with a focus on what makes it a better learning experience for the students, what makes it more engaging and
what makes it more relevant.”
With students going on to work across the country and
around the world, the connection to education and ongoing research provided to students at the Waite has created a
global network with pride and passion in what the University of Adelaide does. The same rings true for the education
staff. “It’s really satisfying to see our graduates all over the
world doing what we’ve trained them to do – whether that’s
research or through our undergraduate and postgraduate
coursework programs,” Kerry says.
It’s the hands-on attitude at the Waite that really sets it
apart, with Amanda also highlighting the importance of
PhD students and the role they play in education as well
as research. “PhD students are the ones doing a lot of the
research here on campus, too. They’re an important part
of the fabric of the community here at the Waite,” she says.
Peter Waite’s dedication to scientific advancement in agriculture set the stage for the future of South Australia’s
educational landscape, and the Waite carries this legacy into
the modern day.
“FOR ME, IT’S ABOUT
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.
I THINK IF YOU KNOW
THAT YOU’RE LEARNING
SOMETHING AND
THAT YOU’RE GOING
TO BE PUTTING
THAT KNOWLEDGE
INTO PRACTICE, IT’S
MORE RELEVANT.”
- PROFESSOR KERRY WILKINSON
Picture courtesy of Isaac Freeman
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